This posting is a tribute to a former Michigan State University band director of mine, Dr. Harry Begian, who died recently. Dr. Begian must have been close to ninety years of age at the time of his death. I played under his baton for only one year, my freshman year, but it was a highly influential and memorable year for me.
Dr. Begian was an 'old-school' band director. On second thought, perhaps he was just the way band directors need to be. There can only be one chief in a band and Dr. Begian was clearly the chief......far and away the best. In his band, you were constantly attentive. Anyone seen yawning during a rehearsal was reminded that "the night time is for sleeping". If you made a mistake, you would become the recipient of the index finger waggle, accompanied by his signature remark, "Ta ta and tish tish". You didn't want to make mistakes in Dr. Begian's bands. You just didn't want to make a mistake and receive any disapproval at all. He made you want to do your very best.
To this day, I can still remember his announcement to the MSU bands that he was leaving, going to the state of Indiana. It was MSU's loss and Indiana's gain. His players were devastated. We knew someone very good would replace him, physically, because a university such as MSU would attract only the very best. But, we also knew that he was irreplaceable on a certain level. Somehow the band room was never the same even though his successor was the consummate musician, director and human being.
Dr. Begian, I know you are directing one fabulous band in heaven. Your indelible mark was left on the thousands of students whose lives you touched, either musically, personally, or both. Every player who ever went on to direct bands carries with him or her your influence and legacy. I hope you can feel the love with each performance that one of your former students helps create.
Your heavenly musicians sit, instruments in hand, waiting for the downbeat.
Ancora imparo
